True, throwaway accounts are an idea. However, I believe the reputation system might influence the ability to make fresh accounts for this purpose. Also, it does cost the Steemit platform operators money to create new accounts and burdens account creation, which could be a factor if many accounts are needed. Plus, we'd still need people willing to forego their own voting power to delegate for downvoting, not upvoting.
I was thinking perhaps a system where you get 1 free downvote per day that does not use voting power. Obviously that's a rough, off-the-cuff idea, but I think we need something that doesn't make people choose between "upvote myself for 100%, or another creator I like, or punish an over-rewarded post".
It's hard to make that latter case in rational game-theory. You don't make friends around here with negativity (or too much realism, if you aren't very careful).
I created an account for my game project, and funded it myself via AnonSteem so that the blockchain wouldn't have to pay for me.
I single account built into a whale with delegated or even purchased SP could at least put a dent in the abuse, I feel. With a reputation earned from posting about what posts got flagged and why
Agreed. Some people thought that is what berniesanders was, but I wasn't really around to pass judgment.
Now, where do we come up with the $3 million USD we'd need just to counteract whale #1 I cited above? =(
Therein lies the conundrum :D